Bulls guard Zach LaVine’s positivity is about to be tested.
Not that anyone thought it wouldn’t be at some point this season.
Back on media day, LaVine gave an opening statement to try to get ahead of the negativity before he could be asked about it.
“With everything I’ve learned, there’s times where you need to speak and times you don’t,” LaVine said. “I talked to you guys in February of last year? Whenever there’s something that needs to be said, it will come from Zach LaVine or my representation.
“There were a lot of thoughts and rumors and opinions about me, about the organization, so just know that whenever it needs to come from me or them, you’ll know it will be from them. Everything else you can take with a grain of salt with false narratives or whatever it may be.
“That won’t waver. That’s something I stand on. So anything going forward, I think that’s how I’m going to answer it.”
He has stayed true to that through 27 games, but now there’s some outside noise.
Trade talk is starting to heat up again.
A source confirmed a report Wednesday that said there was “light momentum” for a scenario in which the Nuggets would try to land LaVine, hoping to add a shot creator alongside MVP Nikola Jokic. Michael Porter Jr.’s name was mentioned as a return in the deal, but to make the money match, the Nuggets would also have to send a player such as Dario Saric in the deal.
What remained consistent on the Bulls’ end — whether it’s the Nuggets or other teams they have spoken to about LaVine — is they won’t add future draft assets in the deal unless it’s a swap of picks.
Considering the Bulls are trying to steer the roster into a youth movement/rebuild, keeping draft picks remains a must. The best currency executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas can keep to make that work are future draft assets.
But LaVine isn’t the only player the Nuggets are targeting. They’re also not the only team that could be window shopping sooner than later.
Think of the current trade landscape as a line. Because of LaVine’s contract — which still has $95 million left after this season and doesn’t expire until 2027 — there are other attractive pieces, with several sitting on a cheaper shelf.
Brandon Ingram, Pelicans: The injured and underachieving Pelicans have been a disaster this season. Ingram was mentioned in trade rumors before the season, and now it seems only a matter of time before he gets dealt.
What makes Ingram more attractive than LaVine is his expiring $36 million contract. Then there’s the wild card in all of this — Zion Williamson. Yep, he’s injured again, and it might be time for both sides to look for a different partnership after five roller-coaster years.
Jimmy Butler, Heat: The former Bulls star would be a huge get for multiple championship-level teams, but his contract is tricky. If the Heat can’t move him, they become a luxury-tax team next season. For a roster that seems to be going backward, that’s not what they want.
Acquiring Butler, however, would strip the team of depth.
D’Angelo Russell, Lakers: It’s not that teams are beating down the door for the veteran point guard, but he is the defined piece that will be moved when the Lakers are ready to strike.
They are over the apron and can’t take back more money than what Russell is owed. Expect him to be the glue in a package sooner than later.
